How To Get To Bregenz
Depending on your location and chosen mode of transportation, Bregenz is easily accessible by car, rail, aircraft, or boat. Connecting Austria, Germany, and Switzerland is the A14 expressway. The Alps and the stunning lakes are breathtakingly visible from this path. It is noteworthy, therefore, that parking might be pricey and there may not be much of it available. Thus, taking public transportation might be more sensible and economical. Bregenz’s primary railway station offers first-rate connections to important Austrian, German, and Swiss towns. From Munich, Stuttgart, Zurich, and Vienna, direct trains are offered. Passengers may take in the landscape as they go along the quick and comfortable train trip.
From many parts of Europe, the train is a quick and pleasant way to get to Bregenz. Direct trains run by Trenitalia Frecciarossa and Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express (ICE) link Bregenz to Munich, Milan and Rome. These train trips take two to five hours to complete, and a one-way ticket costs between €30 and €50. Both online and at the station are ways to purchase your tickets. Once on board, you may use facilities including power outlets, food services, and free Wi-Fi. The trains come into Bregenz Hafen, sometimes referred to as Bregenz Harbour, which is conveniently situated a short distance from the city center. You have plenty of options because the ICE and Frecciarossa trains run every four hours.
Use a regional train to Bregenz if you want to save some money. Operating these trains is Go-Ahead Bayern GmbH or Deutsche Bahn Regional. Trains on this line travel more slowly, hence a changeover at Lindau, Reutin Bahnhof, is required. Their more reasonably priced one-way tickets, however, range from €30 to €50. The regional trains to Bregenz run one train every three hours and take three to five hours to complete the journey. Both online and at the station are ways to purchase your tickets. Moreover, while on board, you may use the standard facilities including restrooms and baggage rack. Regional trains in Europe leave from several locations, such as Bologna Centrale (Bologna Central Station), Firenze Santa Maria Novella (Florence Central Station), and Roma Termini (Rome Central Station), and all end in Bregenz Hafen.
Bus travel is an alternate way to get to Bregenz from many parts of Europe. Bregenz is connected to Munich, Stuttgart, and Rome via direct bus lines run by FlixBus. The distances are covered by the buses in two to five hours, and a one-way ticket costs between €16 and €23. You may easily reserve your tickets using the app or online. You may use the free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and air conditioning among other facilities once on board. The busses leave from Bologna Central Bus Station, Florence Villa Costanza Bus Station, and Rome Tiburtina Bus Station among other places in Europe. They all arrive at the well-located Bregenz Bus Station, which is close to the city center and train station. You have freedom to choose your desired departure time because the FlixBus busses run four times a day.
An other practical way to get to Bregenz from other parts of Europe is to drive. You may drive on the highways after renting a car from your point of departure to get to Bregenz. Depending on variables like traffic and state of the roads, the travel might take anywhere from one to nine hours. From 153 to 880 kilometers separate the routes, and utilizing the Austrian highways requires payment of tolls. One-way petrol and tolls should cost between €30 to €150. An additional choice is to use a car-sharing app like BlaBlaCar, which lets you find other passengers going in the same route and set up a journey together. It might be economical and social to travel with others, but make sure you arrange and deal with the driver in advance. If you would like, you may go to Bregenz from your starting location via taxi or ride-hailing service like Uber. It is noteworthy, although, that this kind of transportation may be somewhat expensive; a single trip can cost anywhere from €200 to €300.
Flying is another way to get to Bregenz from the closest major airport, Zurich. Zurich and Friedrichshafen, Innsbruck, or Altenrhein are all serviceable by air. Austrian, Lufthansa, or Swiss airlines run these flights. These flights take thirty minutes to one hour and fifteen minutes, and a one-way ticket costs between $5 to $200. Tickets may be purchased at the airport or online. Upon boarding, you may enjoy conveniences such free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and food. Flying from Zurich Airport (ZRH), the aircraft land at Altenrhein Airport (ACH), Bodensee Airport in Friedrichshafen (FDH), or Innsbruck Kranebitten Airport (INN). There you may take a bus, rail, or cab to Bregenz. Usually taking 15 to 45 minutes, the trip might set you back anything from €5 to €50.
| Mode | Departure | Destination | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Munich | Bregenz Hafen | 2h – 3h | €30 – €50 |
| Train | Milan | Bregenz Hafen | 4h | €35 – €50 |
| Train | Rome | Bregenz Hafen | 5h | €30 – €50 |
| Bus | Munich | Bregenz Bus Station | 2h 30m | €16 – €23 |
| Bus | Stuttgart | Bregenz Bus Station | 3h 20m | €20 – €28 |
| Bus | Rome | Bregenz Bus Station | 5h 30m | €16 – €23 |
| Car | Munich | Bregenz | 1h 45m | €30 – €50 |
| Car | Milan | Bregenz | 4h 30m | €30 – €50 |
| Car | Rome | Bregenz | 9h 30m | €100 – €150 |
| Plane | Zurich | Altenrhein (ACH) | 30 min | $5 – $15 |
| Plane | Zurich | Friedrichshafen (FDH) | 1h 10m | $100 – $200 |
| Plane | Zurich | Innsbruck (INN) | 1h 15m | $100 – $200 |
Get In - By Car
Seeing the Alps and the lake along the route makes driving to Bregenz a pleasant and practical approach to see this area. Still, you should be aware of a few costs and challenges before you start driving.
Take the A1 motorway out of Vienna, then go via Salzburg and into Germany. Planning a trip to Rosenheim, Germany, means carefully considering your options. One choice is to drive through Munich, however one must be aware that there can be heavy traffic. An alternate choice is to use the Innsbruck route, which goes via the Arlberg Tunnel. Do remember that there is a €13 toll on this route.
Situated conveniently close to the Swiss highway, it is around ten kilometers from Chur/Zürich.
Drivers using the autobahn in Austria are required to get a Vignette, sometimes referred to as a Pickerl, for a cost. One has to apply the Vignette windshield sticker. Vignettes may be had for €8.30 for a 10-day period, €24.20 for a two-month period, and €80.60 for a one-year term. Motorcycles are qualified for a 55% discount. Lack of a vignette carries a €120 punishment that has to be paid up front. One popular method for simple removal and reuse of vignettes is to attach them with Vaseline. But never forget that there is a €240 punishment for this kind of behaviour. The vignette must be correctly fastened to the windscreen; else, it is useless. Illegal and perhaps fine-worthy is keeping the vignette in the glovebox. The ADAC, AMTC, and TCS motor clubs’ offices are where the vignettes may be bought—in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, respectively. Not that membership is necessary, it should be noted. Besides, almost all petrol stations located before the Austrian border have the vignettes. Currently lacking is the inexpensive Korridorvignette, which usually covers the 23-kilometer section of the A14 between the German border and Hohenems.
Drivers coming from Germany should enter the border at Exit 2 (Lindau). This is because, before to continuing south of Bregenz, the A14 passes under a tunnel. Cars traveling to Germany should use Route 190 north and cross the border before getting on the autobahn.
| Departure | Route | Distance | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Munich | A96/A14 | 153 km | 1h 45m | €30 – €50 |
| Milan | A22/A14 | 353 km | 4h 30m | €30 – €50 |
| Rome | A1/A22/A14 | 880 km | 9h 30m | €100 – €150 |
| Stuttgart | A81/A96/A14 | 215 km | 2h 15m | €30 – €50 |
| London | A2/A16/A26/A4/A5/A8/A96/A14 | 1,200 km | 13h 30m | €150 – €200 |
Route options
Depending on your starting point and personal tastes, there are a number of driving routes to Bregenz.
- From Vienna: Travelling 680 kilometers in around 5.5 hours on the A1 and A14 highways is the quickest and most direct way to get to Bregenz. With stops in Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Feldkirch, this journey will take you through the states of Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg. Furthermore, you will pass through the 13.9 km Arlberg tunnel, the longest road tunnel in Austria. Save for the Arlberg tunnel, which costs €10.50 for a one-way trip, this route is largely toll-free.
- From Zurich: It takes around 1.5 hours and covers roughly 130 km to get from Zurich to Bregenz via the A1 and A13 motorways in Switzerland and then the A14 highway in Austria. Travelling along the northern side of Lake Constance, you will pass via Winterthur, St. Gallen, and Dornbirn. The Rhine, which divides Switzerland from Austria, will also be crossed. Though you will need a vignette (a sticker that permits you to use the highways) for Austria, which costs €9.50 for ten days or €27.40 for a year, this route is toll-free in Switzerland.
- From Munich: Traveling 220 kilometers across the A96 and B12 motorways in Germany and the A14 motorway in Austria is the most picturesque way to get to Bregenz. It will take you around 2.5 hours. Traveling this route will pass through the Allgäu area, which is well-known for its cheese, castles, and stunning scenery. Towns include Kaufbeuren, Kempten, Lindau, and Landsberg am Lech will be passed by. The Bodensee bridge, which links Lindau Island to the mainland, will also be crossed. Though you will need a vignette for Austria, which costs €9.50 for ten days or €27.40 for a year, this road is toll-free in Germany.
Driving tips
Though it may be a fun and fulfilling experience, driving to Bregenz requires certain safety and smooth travel measures. Few instances are as follows:
- As the weather and road conditions in the Alps can change rapidly and have an impact on your driving, find out before you travel.
- Verify that your car is in excellent operating condition and has all the necessary accessories, including snow chains, winter tires, a first aid kit, and a warning triangle. Along with your official driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance documentation, you need present.
- As they might not be the same as in your own nation, speed limits and traffic laws must be complied with.
- Austrian speed limits are generally 50 km/h in towns, 100 km/h on rural roads and 130 km/h on highways.
- Furthermore, you ought to pass on the left and drive on the right side of the road.
- The cost of your journey might be significantly increased by tolls and parking. As previously mentioned, a vignette—which can be bought online, at petrol stations, or at border crossings—is required to utilize the Austrian roadways. The Arlberg tunnel costs extra and may be paid online or at toll booths.
- Bregenz has pricey and limited parking, so once you get there, you might want to use public transit.
Get In - By Plane
- Zurich-Kloten Airport ( IATA : ZRH ) is a fairly large airport, about 1 hour by train/car (100 km).
- Friedrichshafen Airport ( IATA : FDH ) is smaller but closer, about 40 km from Bregenz. Reported by some companies such as Condor and Ryanair (from Stansted, London).
- Munich Airport ( IATA : MUC ) is the largest airport in the area. About 2½ hours to Bregenz.
- Altenrhein Airport ( IATA : ACH ): Switzerland, about 20 km to Bregenz, but few connections to Vienna .
Bregenz offers the ease of two major airports for those who would rather fly: Friedrichshafen Airport and Zurich Airport. Friedrichshafen Airport is the nearest, situated in Germany on the opposite side of Lake Constance. International flight possibilities are more plentiful at Zurich Airport, though.
You will have a number of ground transportation choices to get to Bregenz when you get at the airport. A practical and reasonably priced approach to go to the city is via shuttle services and public transportation like buses or trains. If you would like, you can pick a private shuttle or cab for a more customized experience, or rent a car from the airport.
The following list of airports is close to Bregenz:
| Airport | Code | Distance | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Gallen–Altenrhein Airport | ACH | 14.2 km | Switzerland |
| Bodensee Airport, Friedrichshafen | FDH | 25.4 km | Germany |
| Memmingen Airport | FMM | 84.4 km | Germany |
| Zurich Airport | ZRH | 89.3 km | Switzerland |
| Innsbruck Kranebitten Airport | INN | 182 km | Austria |
Flight options
Bregenz is reachable by a number of flights, based on your origin and preferences. The most often occurring ones are listed here:
- From Melbourne: Flying to Zurich (ZRH)—which is around 1.5 hours by rail from Bregenz—is the most affordable and straightforward method to get to Bregenz. From Melbourne to Zurich, a number of carriers fly, including Qantas, Swiss, Emirates, Singapore carriers and others. Including one or two layovers in places like Dubai, Singapore, or Hong Kong, the journey takes over 22 hours. Round-trip ticket prices typically run approximately $1,500 AUD.
- From Dublin: Flying to Zurich (ZRH) is the quickest and most direct way to get to Bregenz; the rail ride takes around 1.5 hours. Aer Lingus, Swiss, Lufthansa and other airlines are among those that provide flights from Dublin to Zurich. There are no stops, hence the flight takes around two hours. Round-trip ticket prices typically run approximately €200 EUR.
- From Altenrhein: Flying to Altenrhein (ACH) is the fastest and closest method to get to Bregenz; it’s only thirty minutes by car or bus from Bregenz. But since Altenrhein has so few flights—mostly to and from Switzerland—this choice is extremely pricey and restricted. There are no stops, hence the flight takes around an hour. A round-trip ticket costs on average roughly CHF 300.
Get In - By Train
Bregenz’s train station offers simple access to local and long-distance transit options.Among the train services offered is the Eurocity, which runs from Munich to Bregenz and finishes in Zurich.Though connections from the southwest of Germany may potentially transit through Zurich, connections from Germany are often routed via Lindau.Normally, connections from Switzerland go via St. Gallen and Zurich.Every day there are many direct trains, including a night train, departing from Vienna, Linz, and Salzburg.The penultimate stop is Feldkirch, where the motorail train service finishes after starting in Vienna.There is a night train transfer option available from Graz to Feldkirch via Salzburg.The principal crest of the Alps is reached from places south of Bellinzona. The quickest route would be to pass through St. Margrethen in Switzerland and continue to Chur, where there is a bus connection.Verona is also reachable from Innsbruck.
Train options
Depending on your origin and tastes, there are a number of rail choices to travel to Bregenz.
- From London: The simplest and least expensive way to get to Bregenz is to take the Eurostar to Paris, then transfer to a Thalys or TGV train to Zurich, and finally to a regional rail to Bregenz. Different departure and arrival times are used by the several trains that run on this route. After two or three transfers, the trip takes around thirteen hours in total. A round-trip ticket costs, on average, roughly £250.
- From Vienna: The Railjet train departs Vienna every four hours and is the quickest and most direct way to get to Bregenz. One Westbahn train runs on this route once a day as well. Without any deviations, the trip takes around seven hours overall.Round-trip ticket prices typically run approximately €160 EUR.
- From Zurich: A regional train departing from Zurich every hour and ending in Bregenz is the quickest and most convenient way to get to Bregenz. While more costly and requiring reservations, there are also a few EuroCity trains that run on this route. Without any deviations, the trip takes around 1.5 hours overall. A round-trip ticket costs on average CHF 80.
Get In - By Boat
Should you already be close to Lake Constance, you may also go to Bregenz by boat. Further towns and cities on the lake, including as Lindau, Konstanz, Friedrichshafen, and Meersburg, are reachable by ferry from Bregenz. There are stunning views of the mountains and lake during the relaxing boat trip.
Boat options
- From Lindau: A boat, which departs in Bregenz every hour, is the quickest and most convenient way to go from Lindau to the city. While more costly and requiring a reservation, there are also a few catamarans that run this trip. With no deviations, the trip takes roughly fifteen minutes in all. Round-trip ticket prices typically run around €10.
- From Constance: A boat, which departs several times a day and makes stops at many towns and cities along the lake, including Meersburg, Mainau Island, Friedrichshafen, and Lindau, is the longest and most picturesque way to go from Constance to Bregenz. Though they make fewer stops and are more costly, there are also some express boats that run this route. Without any deviations, the trip takes around four hours overall.Round-trip ticket prices typically run approximately €40 EUR.
- From Zurich: The quickest and most pleasant way to get to Bregenz is to take the train to Romanshorn, then transfer to a boat. Numerous trains and ferries use this route, with varying departure and arrival hours. With one stopover, the trip takes around 2.5 hours in total. Round-trip ticket prices typically run approximately CHF 60.
How to get to Bregenz from Vienna
- By rail: The quickest and most direct route from Vienna to Bregenz is by train; it takes around seven hours and doesn’t include any transfers. Both the once-daily Westbahn train and the every-four-hour Railjet train stop in Bregenz. Comfortable and providing views of the Alps and the countryside, the train trip is enjoyable. The ÖBB website has the timetables and costs. Round-trip ticket prices typically run approximately €160 EUR.
- By bus: The least expensive way is to take the bus from Vienna to Bregenz; a round-trip ticket is around €50 EUR. It is the longest and least pleasant choice, though, as it takes over nine hours and calls for a change in Munich. From Vienna Central Station, take the Flixbus to Munich Central Bus Station; from Munich, take another Flixbus to Bregenz Bus Station. Being primarily on the road, the bus trip is not very picturesque. The Flixbus website has the timetables and costs available.
- By vehicle: As it allows you greater freedom and flexibility, driving from Vienna to Bregenz is a practical choice if you own or hire a car. It is the priciest choice, though, as petrol and tolls run roughly €100 EUR, while parking and vehicle rental run another €100 EUR. About 5.5 hours are needed to drive the 680 kilometer route. Apart from the Arlberg tunnel, which costs €10.50 EUR for a one-way trip, you may travel the generally toll-free A1 and A14 highways. Longer but more picturesque is the scenic path around the lake.
- By plane: There isn’t often a direct trip between Vienna and Bregenz, hence it’s not a very popular choice. After flying into a neighboring airport—Zurich, Innsbruck, Munich, or Altenrhein, for example—you will need to take a rail or bus to Bregenz. This choice is neither particularly affordable (a round-trip ticket costs roughly €200 EUR or more) nor very convenient because it requires several changes and transfers. About one hour is spent on the flight, while five hours or more are spent traveling overall.
How to get to Bregenz from London
By plane and train
One of the fastest and most practical ways to get from London to Bregenz is to fly to Zurich, Switzerland, and then take a train. About 120 kilometers away, in Zurich, is the closest major airport to Bregenz. Many companies, notably Swiss, British Airways, and EasyJet, provide direct flights from London to Zurich. Round-trip tickets average approximately €150, and the journey takes around one hour and forty minutes.
Bregenz is serviced directly by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) from Zurich Airport. About €30 gets you a one-way ticket, and the train journey takes about one hour and twenty minutes. Both at the station and online, you may buy your ticket. Trains circulate every hour.
You may alternatively fly to one of the neighboring airports, Basel, Stuttgart, or Memmingen, and then take a bus or train to Bregenz. But this can cost more and take longer than going to Zurich.
By train
Trains are a further option for getting to Bregenz from London and may be a pleasant and picturesque means of moving throughout Europe. That takes longer and requires more adjustments than flying, though. Travelling by rail from London to Bregenz will take around ten hours, with two stops along the route.
The first leg is to travel the two hours and fifteen minutes via Eurostar train from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord. Your ticket price depends on the day and time of travel and can be bought at the station or online. Generally speaking, a one-way journey costs roughly €100.
Around four hours and ten minutes pass between Paris Gare de Lyon and Zurich Hauptbahnhof by TGV train. Depending on availability and booking period, a one-way ticket can cost anywhere from €50 to €200 and can be bought online or at the station.
The third stage involves traveling one hour and twenty minutes by SBB train from Zurich Hauptbahnhof to Bregenz.
By bus
Budget travellers may find that taking a bus is a more affordable but less pleasant way to get to Bregenz from London. This is also far more time-consuming, though, and would not be particularly practical for long-distance travel. There will be at least one changeover on the roughly 23-hour bus trip from London to Bregenz.
The initial stage is to travel 14 hours and 30 minutes via FlixBus bus from London Victoria Coach Station to Frankfurt Central Train Station. Online or in person ticket booking is available; a one-way ticket starts at €25.
The second stage is to travel seven hours and thirty minutes by FlixBus bus from Frankfurt Central Train Station to Bregenz Bus Station. Online or at the station, tickets start at €15 for a one-way journey.
By car
Driving is your last, and maybe most flexible and exciting, option for getting to Bregenz from London. But doing this also calls for a great deal of preparation, planning, and money outlays for things like parking, tolls, and gas. Without traffic and stops, the trip from London to Bregenz should take about 11 hours.
The first stage is to drive the one hour and thirty minutes to Folkestone from London. After that, Folkestone to Calais-Fréthun is around 35 minutes away by Eurotunnel shuttle. Both online and at the station, tickets are available; a one-way ticket starts at €60.
The second stage is to drive the nine hours or so from Calais-Fréthun to Bregenz. Along the route you will have to pay for tolls and vignettes (road tax stickers) and pass France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and Switzerland.
An other option is to drive the two hours or so from London to Dover, then spend the one hour and thirty minutes or so on the car ferry to Calais. Both online and at the dock, tickets are available; a one-way ticket starts at €40. Next, as was already indicated, you can travel from Calais to Bregenz.
How to get to Bregenz from Munich
By Train
Travelling from Munich to Bregenz by rail is among the fastest and most pleasant options. ICE, Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express, runs direct trains between the two cities. The one-way ticket for these trains costs between €35 and €50 and they cover 205 kilometers in around two hours. There are facilities on board including free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and food services; tickets may be purchased online or at the station. Munich Hauptbahnhof is the departure point for the trains, which arrive in Bregenz Hafen (Bregenz Harbour), a short distance from the city center. You have many of possibilities because the ICE trains run every four hours.
By traveling by regional train from Munich to Bregenz, operated by Deutsche Bahn Regional or Go-Ahead Bayern GmbH, you may also save money. Though they are slower and need a change at Lindau, Reutin Bahnhof, these trains are less expensive—one-way tickets run between €30 and €50. Bregenz is around three hours away by regional rail, which departs every three hours. On board facilities include baggage racks and restrooms, and tickets can also be purchased online or at the station. Regional trains leave for Bregenz Hafen from Munich Hauptbahnhof or Pasing.
By Bus
An additional way to go from Munich to Bregenz is via bus. Direct buses run by the FlixBus firm connect the two cities. A one-way ticket on these buses costs between €16 and €23 and they cover 153 kilometers in around two hours and thirty minutes. Online or via the app, you may purchase your tickets, and on board facilities include free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and air conditioning. The buses go from the main bus station (ZOB) in Munich to the Bregenz bus station, which is near the train station and the city center. You can select your departure time from the four daily trips made by FlixBus.
By Car
An additional choice is to drive to Bregenz from Munich. Renting a car in Munich will allow you to go to Bregenz via the A14 and A96 freeways. About one hour and forty-five minutes pass depending on traffic and road conditions. The 153 kilometer journey includes tolls on Austrian roads. Gas and tolls for a single trip will run you between €30 and €50. Use a car-sharing service like BlaBlaCar to split the cost of a trip with other travelers traveling the same path. Though you have to arrange the specifics with the driver in advance, this might be a more affordable and social method to travel. From Munich, you may either take a taxi or use a ride-hailing service like Uber, although the latter will be rather costly—a one-way trip would set you back between €200 and €300.
